Apparatus for separating coal from dirt and like foreign substances



w. H. BERRISFORD, APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING COAL FROM DIRT 1 AND LIKE FOREIGN SUBSTANCES Nov. 11, 1930:

Filed Jan. 3, 1930 Patented Nov. 11, 1930 WILLIAM HENRY IBERRISFORD, OF STOKE-ON TRENT', ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LOCK- WOODS CLEAN COAL EROGESS LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND APPARATUS non snranarme GOAL FROM. DIRT Aivn LIKE FOREIGN sunsrimons Application filed. January 3, 1930, Serial No. 418,329, and in Great Britain November 17, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in means for separating coal from dirt and stone or other foreign substances mixed therewithherein after for convenience referred to as stone-and more particularly to apparatus of the type comprising inclined sheets of hard material, preferably glass, on to which the material to be separated falls from an intervening step, roller or other means of feeding the mixture so that the pieces bounce to some extent down the inclined sheets and are separated mainly by reason of difierences in specific gravity which alfect the length of bounce of the respective materials. The sheets of glass or the like are separated from each other at their ad'oinin ed 'es to leave a a over which the coal jumps whilst the stone passes downwards through the gap. For further separation of any coal which passes downwards through the gap, a second and even a third series of inclined plates is employed.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of plate which will effect a more thorough separation of the coal and stone.

Hitherto the inclined plates have been plane, with or without a curved tip, and according to my invention I form such a platesubstantially arcuate in side elevation or a combination of arcuate and plane portions so as to have as general contour a continuous curve and place it at the desired angle of inclination, the coal and stone thus falling into what is in effect a shallow dish-like pl'ate set at the necessary angle.

The impulse imparted to the mixture of coal and stone causes it to pass down the first part of the plate and then due to the arcuate shape of the plate the mass gradually assumes a more horizontal direction of travel until it is travelling substantially horizontally just before it reaches the gap between the plates. This disposition may be varied as desired, however. The invention can be applied either to a single stage or to a multi-stage separator; in the former case a single plate is employed, the separated stone passing over the end of the plate to a discharge chute located below the edge of the plate while the coal passes to a second discharge chute which adjoins the first chute at its side remotefrom the said edge. In the case of a multi-stage separator, any inclined plate in the apparatus whereon a mixture of coal and stone is to fall and from which the mixture proceeds over a gap, may be formed as described.

The improved form ofplate may be made of any suitable material, glass, steel, alloy or the like and-the coal may be fed to it in any regular manner, similar to those described.

The invention is illustrated in the single figure of the accompanying drawing as applied to a single stage separator.

1 is the plate which is of arcuate section and is formed of glass, steel, alloy or other suitable material. The plate is secured to wooden bearers 2 mounted on a bracket 3 pivotally mounted at i to the frame form in 5 of the separator and engaged by a cam 6 secured to an operating shaft 7 rotation of which effects an adjustment of the setting of the bracket 8 and hence of the plate 1.

8 is a stone chute the mouth of which is located below and slightly to one side of the delivering end of the plate 1 and 9 is a clean coal chute the mouth of which adjoins the mouth of the chute 8 and is remote from the delivering end of the plate 1. The dirt chute 8 may conveniently comprise an adjustable plate 10.

The constructional work supporting the conveyor feeding the cleaning apparatus is shown at 11, and 12 is the end of the con-' veyor itself.

As the mixture of coal and stone passes down the first part of the plate it gradually assumes an increasingly horizontal direction of travel until just before it reaches the end of the plate a substantially horizontal didischarge end for movement on a horizontal f axis, cam means cooperating With the plate brea-rwardly of said axis operable to. ad ust the position of the plate, said surface being substantially arcuate'in the line of travel of the materials' from the zone of reception thereof to the said discharge end, and said surface at the discharge end beingarranged substantially horizontal, I i p a '23"Separatingapparatus ofi'the-c'lass "dej scribed comprising a plate ontothefupper surface of 'which the materials are'adapted,

tobe my invention, I have, signed this 2Qthgdayof December, 1929. I

WILLIAM HENRY BER RI-S FORD. y

to'falha Supporting frame, a bearing on'said frame, a bracket, a shaft pivoting said bracket to the bearing adj a'cent the discharge V end o f the plate, bearers onsaid bracket for said plate, the upper surface ofcsaidplate be: ingasubstantially arcuate in the line-of; travel ofthe materials tofbe separated from the zone of receptionthe ieof to said discharge end, the said surfaceat' the latterend. being substantial-1yhorizontal, means on the frame to adjust the plate "on said shaft'arranged rearwardly of the shaft, and chute means for separated material arranged onsaid frame with'their entrances forwardlyof' the disha ge end of theplate. In testimony that I'claim th my name e foregoing 

